In recent years, Singapore has placed strong focus on STEM (an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) programs in the syllabus of our higher education. STEM education encompasses a multitude of disciplines, ranging from economics to health care. STEM subjects have been recognized to be instrumental in building knowledge-based economies that thrives on innovation and production. From there, it is clear that STEM fields stand to play pivotal roles in a nation’s development. The progress in STEM Education could positively affect a nation’s progress.
There are many benefits to a STEM-focused education. Globally, STEM programs have been indicated to benefit students with the both technical and life skills, In a speech by Singapore’s
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A STEM graduate is considered to be attractive and of high demand in the global workforce. With the growing pervasiveness of technology in recent years, STEM knowledge and skills grow exponentially in demand. According to a report by The Business Times, STEM jobs has experienced 3 times the growth of non-STEM jobs globally since 2004, and it is predicted that the numbers will only increase in the upcoming 4 years. Additionally, STEM competencies Demand in STEM competencies has been experiencing growth. Knowledge, skills and abilities commonly associate with STEM workers are strong in professional, business and health …show more content…
Debates exist that the focus on STEM education could lead to declining interest in other important fields, such as humanities and liberal arts. According to a report by Washington Post, the narrowing emphasis on STEM-related education in the United States might eventually lead U.S. into dehumanizing broad-based learning and liberal arts education. Though no relevant statistics on the negative consequences of STEM education has been identified in our local contexts yet, Singapore should tread the intricate balance between the different educational fields. Quoting Steve Jobs from the same article, the global success of Apple today is only made possible with the marriage of technology and liberal
Sanford J. Ungar’s “The New Liberal Arts” discusses the common assumptions made about a liberal arts education and how they are often wrong. Ungar believes that a liberal arts education is important for all students and teaches them skills they will not learn elsewhere. He also insists other countries, such as China, should adopt America’s liberal arts system, he says, “The Chinese may be coming around to the view that a primary focus on technical training is not serving them adequately-that if they aspire to world leadership, they will have to provide young people with a broader perspective” (Ungar 231). In other words, Ungar believes only a proper liberal arts education can help students achieve an open mind. Though I concede that a liberal
“Geoffrey Garin, president of Hart Research Associates, suggest that studying liberal arts is actually best form of career education (Ungar 657).” He has clearly done research to know that liberal arts are proven to prepare students for numerous careers that require a form of the arts, while the STEM majors seem to
In his article “Lost in America,” Douglas McGray highlights the isolationism of the American educational system Through his article, McGray expresses his concerns about the lack of focus of the American education system on the learning of foreign culture. The article was issued by Foreign Policy magazine in 2006. McGray’s target audiences are the ones that can make changes in the educational curriculum, which signifies that his intended audience includes American legislators involved in American curriculum policies. McGray, who is co-creator and editor-in-chief of Pop-Up Magazine claims that the American education has an isolationist curriculum.
The value of the STEM system (science, technology, engineering, and math) is steering the education world in a new and positive direction, although some may believe otherwise. In Lloyd Bentsen’s article, “the United States educational system will continue to fail our children,” he talks about how he disagrees with Zakaria, another writer stating his views on the STEM system. Bentsen believes the STEM system will benefit America. In Scott Gerber’s article, “How Liberal Arts Colleges Are Failing America,” he talks about how people can correlate their majors into entrepreneurship. Lastly, in Fareed Zakaria’s article, “Why America’s obsession with STEM education is dangerous,” he shares his belief that our obsession with STEM is just a way to overlook
I’ve seen students struggle with being literate and numerate so I’m not even sure they could begin to concern themselves with becoming competent in STEM fields during high school. It would seem that educators might be more helpful to encourage students to use high school to build a breadth of knowledge in many different areas, knowing that college will be the time to build depth. High school could be used to develop the basics and apply elements from many, non-science fields to their work similar to a liberal arts approach. Providing students with a broad-based high school foundation before entering college would help develop them into well-rounded students prepared for whichever program they choose whether it’s a STEM program or not.
I spend my observation hours in the training room this week. While in the training room, I learned a lot more about the e stem machine. I learned that e-stem is mainly used to reduce pain as opposed to actually healing the injured body part. The e-stem can also be used to help people recover from surgery. It is crazy thinking about all the resources we have now to help people return from injuries.
Growing up, the world of mathematics and science has always intrigued me. I have always preferred to calculate definite integrals rather than talk about the Gilded Age, and I will choose to read about NASA’s latest discoveries over Shakespearean sonnets any day of the week. I felt I could delve into the concepts of Calculus and Newtonian Physics more easily than Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth and Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter. I saw myself devoted to the fields pertaining to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and aspired to pursue a career where I could apply my fascination into the field of engineering. When I walked into AP English Language & Composition at the start of my junior year, however, I realized my interests
The Steve Jobs commencement speech was a speech that was given by the former Apple Inc. CEO to Stanford University during the 114th commencement on 12th June 2005. The speech Steve Jobs gave Stanford University is a very effective speech, because of his use of rhetorical devices. Jobs especially use his background and childhood to play upon his rhetorical approach. In Steve Jobs, he tells several stories about love, detection, death, loss. The main part of the Speech is how Steve Jobs encourages the students to pursue their dreams, and do what makes them happy, even if it all doesn’t go after the plan.
In his essay, "College isn't for Everyone. Let's Stop Pretending It Is," Michael Petrilli uses the title of his article to clearly state the opinion that college is simply not for everyone. He supports this opinion on the statistically low college graduation rate of lower income students. He links this low rate of graduation to poor performance in high school, which leaves students unready for college upon completion of twelfth grade. On the job technical training is presented as a viable alternative to college, where a skill can be obtained to provide a career.
How exciting would the world be if everyone was either a scientist or mathematician? What would the world be like? Of course there will be a bountiful supply of scientific breakthroughs thank we can bank on, but what how will all of the other aspects of the world fare? As of currently, all across the country there has been a jolt of urgency for the incorporation of a more STEM based education in schools. A more “STEM” based education like the type described in We Can’t All Be Math Nerds and Science Geeks by Fareed Zakaria narrows student’s once broad-based learning foundation and directs it into a more specific line of learning, which is the reasoning behind Zakaria’s disapproval of the movement.
From Murray’s claim, I do agree that there has become a rising demand for skilled workers. On the other hand, I feel that training and vocational schools do not give as much flexibility in learning other majors as it narrowly focuses on the degree with no general education
Everyone knows the chant from the introduction of the show Bill Nye the Science Guy. For some, Bill Nye is the reason they became interested in science in the first place to make a career out of it. Positive role models like Bill Nye can make a huge difference in a child’s interest in STEM education. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Sometimes Arts is included, changing the acronym to STEAM.
STEM disciplines require an immense amount of work and effort to succeed for most students. From my personal experience, on average, as an undergraduate student pursuing a Mathematics degree, I have taken four, five unit courses in my field per semester. Often I was overwhelmed by how many different concepts I had to learn simultaneously and became concerned that I would accidentally apply wrong formulas or techniques in my varying courses. Along with class stress, there are also additional components that interfere with success in a STEM discipline. Two of these additional stressors are gender and ethnicity; these stressors or challenges appear more
Most owners of companies are looking for people who have critical thinking, communication, problem solving, writing skills and can go on continuous learning. Additionally, arts and science education can increase your chances of getting a job. Nowadays, the society needs leaders that have extra knowledge in cultural forces, economic, political and social concepts and subject that affect people. Arts and sciences help you to be ready for future life and career. Students must also know that the major chosen does not stop at one career goals.
Using year 2000 as a base with an index of 100.00, the education index rose from 36.72 in 1980 to 146.39 in 2010 (AMP, 2015). The indices for post-secondary and tertiary enrolment have also increased very significantly. Table 1.1: Education Development Indices of Singapore Malays in 1980 – 2010 Field/ Sub-field 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005